Feb. 15, 2006
Box Score
BEAUMONT - Matthew Barrow scored a career-high 29 points, but it was not enough as Sam Houston State held off Lamar for an 85-82 win over Lamar University Wednesday night in Southland Conference men's basketball action at the Montagne Center.
Lamar dropped to 14-10 overall and 7-4 in SLC play. The Cardinals slipped into a tie for third place in the league standings with McNeese State, who lost at home to Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday. Lamar travels to Texas-Arlington Saturday for a 2 p.m. game.
Sam Houston State improved to 17-6 overall and 8-3 in SLC play. The Bearkats took sole possession of second place, trailing only Northwestern State (10-1).
Trailing 69-60 following a three-pointer by Sam Houston's Chris Jordan, Lamar used a 13-3 run to take a one-point lead, 73-72, on a Blake Whittle layup at 4:19. SHSU's Aaron Wade answered with a three-pointer deep in the right corner that put the Bearkats up two, 75-73, with 4:00 remaining.
A pair of free throws by Barrow tied the game at 75-75 at 3:11. Jordon hit a pull-up three-pointer at 2:09 to put SHSU up 78-75, but that was short lived as Whittle nailed a three-pointer to tie the game for the sixth time in the game at 78-78 with 1:50 left.
Ryan Bright hit a layup with 59 seconds remaining that gave SHSU the lead for good at 80-78. After Barrow missed a three-pointer, Bright made 1 of 2 free throws to put the Bearkats up 81-78. Following a turnover by Barrow, Jordan made 1 of 2 free throws at :14 to put SHSU up 82-78.
Barrow made two free throws with 8.8 seconds left to trim the lead to two, 82-80. Jordan made 1 of 2 free throws to push SHSU's lead to 83-80. Barrow made two more free throws with five seconds left to pull Lamar within one, 83-82. Wade made two free throws to put SHSU up three, 85-82, and seal the win. Brandon Chappell's 40-footer caromed off the rim, but it wouldn't have counted anyway since the officials said it came after the final buzzer.
Barrow was 9 of 12 from the field, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range, and 9 of 11 from the free throw line in besting his previous career-high by 10 points. Alan Daniels added 22 points, 19 coming in the second half, on 8 of 22 shooting from the field. It marked the 18th time in 24 games this season that he has scored 20 or more points in a game.
Whittle added 16 points off the bench on 6 of 10 shooting from the field, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Josh Goodwin grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds off the bench to go along with seven rebounds. Lamar shot 46.8 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from 3-point range and 59.3 percent from the free throw line.
Jordan scored a game-high 30 points on 11 of 14 shooting from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Wade added 17 points and seven rebounds. Jeremy Thomas added 13 points and Bright 12 off the bench for the Bearkats.
SHSU, who led 44-40 at halftime, shot 47.3 percent from the field for the game, 42.9 percent from 3-point range and 68.6 percent from the free throw line.
